Brickmaking-machine.



F. w. BUTTERWORTH & a. HOLMES.

BRICKMAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATIVON FILED MAR.22 1916- I Patented July18, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

F. W. BUTTERWORTH & HOLMES.

BRICKMAKING MACHINE.

, APPLICATION FILED MAR-22.1916.

w as

Patented July 18, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

F. W. BUTTERWORTH & G. HOLMES. BRICKMAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR 22, 1916.

Patented July is, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

1915.- 5 SHEETS-+SHEE'T 4."

'Pdtented July 18 APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22, 1916.

F; W. BUTTERWORTH & G. HOLMES.

BRlCKMAKlNG MACHINE F. W. BUTTERWORTH & G. HOLMES.

BRICKMAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION HLED MAR. 22. 1916.

PatentedJuiy 18, 1916 5 SHEET 3-SHEET 5.

'Z I vikialzarw pmrsn s'ra rns Parana: orrro z.

FRANK w. Bu'r'rmawoa'rrr AND GRANT HOLMES,

or DANVILLE, ILLINOIS, vassrsnons T WESTERN BRICK COMPANY, OF DANVILLE,ILLINOIS, A LIMITED PARTNERSHIP.

BRICKM AKING-MAOHINE.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 18, 1916.

Application filed. March 22, 1916. Serial No. 85,788.

To all 'u'lmm it 'm (14/ concern Be it known that we, F RANK 7. BUTTER-won'rn and (lnan'r Hermes, both citizens of the United States, andresiding at Danville, in the county of Vermilion, State of lllinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements inBrickmaking-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

()ur invention relates to brick-making machines, and refers particularlyto a. ma-

. chine for treating the surface of a ribbon of August 19, 1915, and68,7 l2,

'toprovide means by which pea ra nce and are light-absorbing rather thanlight-reflecting. As described in said applications, the more or lesshardened skin formed on the upper and side surfaces of the clay-ribbonas it is extruded from the die of the press is removed therefrom bywires, or other similar means, preferably placed near the mouth of saiddie, this operation also serving to roughen the upper and side surfacesof the ribbon. The stippling operation is then performed by means 0brushes carrying steel bristles, which penetrate slightly the exposedsurface of the ribbon, thereby giving the latter the desired appearance. The bristles are preferably made of hardened steel, and areslightly bent when brought in contact with the ribbon, so that upondisengagement therefronr small particlcs of clay are picked from theribbon.

It is theobject of our present invention to construct a brick-makingmachine which shall have the function of stippling the'exposed surfacesof the moving clay-ribbon and to perform this operation in an efficientand economical manner, with the expenditure of only a small amount ofpower for driving the machine. 1'

It is a further object of our invention the stippling the latter whichare r sake of simplicity;

brushes may be readily adjusted with respect to the clay-ribbon sothatthe bristles of these brushes will penetrate the surface of theribbon a desired distance.

A still further object of our invention consists in the provision ofmeansby which a plurality of brushes adapted to be brought 1ncontactwith one of the surfaces of the clay-ribbon may be maintained in properahnement, such means being adjustable, so that if desired the brushes asa whole may be regulated in such manner bristles of these brushes willprogressively sink a greater face 'of the ribbon. By the use of suchalining means, only a single cam or eccentric need be employed in themovement of a series of brushes, thus rendering the machinesimpleandeconomie cal in its operation. 1

These and other advantages of our'invention will be more readilyunderstood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1is a plan of ourimproved brickmaking machine, showing the completemachine having brushes adapted to engage both the sides and the top of amoving clayribbon; Fig. 2 is a plan of that portion of the machine whichcarries the brushes adapted to engage the upper surface of theclay-ribbon; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the portion ofthe machine shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is an enlarged end elevation of theportion of the machine shown in Figs. 2 and 3; Fig. 5 isa horizon: talsection taken on the line 55 of'Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectiontaken on the line 6-6 of Fig. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the portionof the briekqnaking machine which carries the 'brushes'adapted to engagethe sides'of the moving. clay-rib hen, the conveyer sheaves and-theirsupporting mechanism and Fig- 8 is a vertical transverse section taken'on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7, showing the conveyor sheaves and theirsupporting mechanism in position.

The machine of our invention is adapted to treat the ribbon ceramicmetal, after the latter leaves the brick-press and after the more orless har dened skin has been removed from the upper and side surfaces ofthis ribbon.'- The ma chine as a whole comprises two 20, of clay orother,

that a the f or less distance into the surorder to regulate beingomitted forthe.

.ilOb

portions, namely, the portion 21 for treating the upper surface of theribbon 20 and the portion 322 for treating the sines of the ribbon. Forthe sake of simplicity, I will first describe the detailed constructionof the portion 21. of the l'n'iclz-makiug machine, then the detailedconstruction of the portion 22, and finally describe the operation ofthe machine as a whole.

The portion 21, of the machine rests on the I-beams 23, being carriedthereon by the transverse angle-irons 24, which serve to support thefour angle-iron corner posts 25. Near their upper ends the corner posts25 are engaged by'the longitudinal angleirons 26, which are, in turn,engaged by the trans--' verse angle-irons 27 which are riv ted orotherwise fastened to the longitudinal angleirons'26. 'lhe longitudinalangle irons 26 and the transverse angle-irons 27 have connected theretoat their points of junction the guss'e'ts, 28, which have vthetransversely disposed downward extensions 29, which engage the cornerposts 25, the surface of each corner post 25 which is located at a rightangle to the surface engaged by the extension 29 of each of the gussets28 being engaged by a longitudinal angleriron 26." As most clearly shownin Figs and 6, each of the four corner posts 25 is engaged on its innerangular surface by the angle-piece 30, which is boltedto ore of thelongitudinal angle-irons 26 and the extension 29 of one of the gussets28. Each angle-post is, therefore, near its upper portion inclosed by alongitudinal angle-iron 26 and the extension 29 of the gusset plate 28on its outer angular portion and the angle-piece 30 on. its innerportion.

The upper end of each corner post 53" has bolted thereto the hearingmember 3i, through which passes the re ulating'shatt 32, to the upperend of which is fastened the hand-Wheel 33. The shaft 32 carries thereonthe collars 34 and 35 engaging opposite ends of the bearing member 31,The lower portion of the regulating shaft 32 is threaded, and engagesthe correspondingly threaded block 36, the upper end of which in turnengages the lower edge of the anglepiece 30. It will be evident that onrotation of the hand-wheels the regulating blocks 36am moved upwardly ordownwardly, as jzhe case may be, and thereby serve to corre- 5spondingly move the framework, which is comprised of the longitudinalangledrons 26 and thc transverse angle-irons 27. Each of the retainingclamps 37, most clearly shown in Fig. 5, incloses the corner post 27 andthe regulating block 36, and serves to prevent the latter from turningwhen the regulating shaft 32 is rotated, and also serves to hold theparts in adjusted position upon tightening the hand-scrcw 38 carried byeach of the clamps 37.

At or near their central portions each of the longitudinal angle-irons26 carries a bearing member 39, and through these hearing members passesthe shaft l0 carrying the pu lley ll, shaft -Il0 atits central portionbetween the bearings 39 is provided with an eccentric portion 4a, which,in turn, engages the bearings 43 carried by theuppcr surface of thebrush-carrying plate 44, so that upon rotation of the shaft the brushcarrying plate is moved toward and away from the ribbon. 20 movingthrough the machine on the endless conveyer 45 carried b v the sheavesal which are, in turn, carried by the channels at! resting on thesuppm'ts 48. The lmish-carrying plate llhas bolted to its lower surfacethe brushes ll), each of which. carries the bristles which arepreterebly constructed of flat narrow strips of tempered steel.

Bolted to the longitudinahanglodrons 26 are the liiearing members 51,one of these bearing members being located near each end of eachlongitudinal angle-iron 26. Extending between each pair of bearingmembers 51 is a shaft and rigidly mounted on each of these shafts is abell-crank lever To one end of each bell-crank lever 53 is pivotallyconnected a pair of links 54, the opposite ends of which are pivotal [yconnected to one end of the rib of the brush carrying plate 4%.

To the opposite end of each bell-crank lever 53 pivotally connected theinteriorly threaded member 56, and between the two members 58 extendsthe equalizing rod 57, one end of which, as 58, has a right-handed screwthread and the other end of which, as 59, has a lett'handod screwthread. It will be evident that on rotation of the equalizing rod 57 theupper arms of the bell-crank levers 53 are moved toward or away fromeach other, as the case may be. lVhen the i 7 per arms of the bell-cranklevers are thus moved toward each other it will be evident that thehorizontal arm of the bell-crank shown at the right-hand portion of 3,will be moved downwardly, thereby carrying that end of theln-ush-carrying plate downwardly and moving the brushes 49 at this endof the plate nearer to the ribbonfZOt At the same time the hori-ZOIlttil arm of the bcll-cranlc lever 53, shown at the lelthand portionof l ig. will be n'loved upwardly, thereby carrying that end of thebrusharrying plate 44 and the brushes H) upwardly. ()a rotation of theequalizing rod 57 in the opposite direction so that the upper verticalarms oi the bell crank lever '53 are moved away from each other, theopposite action will take place with respect to the inoven'icnt of thebrushcarryingplatc 44. ln-this way it will be evident that the positionof the brushes 49 may be regulated as desired, while at the lli sametime upon rotation of the shaft 49 the tilt the plate 44 slightly sothat the bristlesbrush-carrying plate 44 is always maintained at thesame angle with respect to the clay-ribbon 20 asthe brush-carrying plate44 and its brushes 49 are moved toward and away from the ribbon 20 bythe action of the eccentric 42. As amatter of practice, we usuallyprefer to maintain the brush-carrying plate 44 in a position exactlyparallel to the upper surface of the clay-ribbon 20, but, as. previouslyexplained, if it is desired to 50 of the brushes 49 at one end of theplate 44 may penetrate into the upper surface of the clay-ribbon fartherthan the bristles of the brushes at the opposite end of the plate 44,this result may be readily accomplished.

We will now pass to a description of the portion 22 of the brick-makingmachine, which is, in many respects, similar to that As most '60 carrythe transverse angle-irons 61, to

which are suitably fastened the four corner posts 62. To the upperendsof the corner posts '62 are riveted the longitudinal angleirons 63and the transverse angle-irons 64,

the gussets 65 being used to strengthen the construction. A pair ofangle-irons 66 is riveted or bolted to the longitudinal angleirons63near the central portions of-the latter; The pair of angle-irons 66 ateach end thereof carries an elbow piece 67, each of which is alsofastened to one of the longitudinal angle-irons 68 extending between thecorner posts 62. Each elbow piece 67 has a bearing 69, through whichpasses the regulating shaft 70 having at its outer end The shaft 70carries thereon the collars 72 engaging opposite ends of the bearing 69.The-inner end of the regulating shaft 7.0is threaded, and em a gages theyoke 7 3, which on its lower surface is provided with the recess 74 forslidably engaging the track 7 5 of the elbow member 67 and at its upperouter portion has a crosspiece 76 engaging the upper surfaces of theangle-irons 66. The yoke '73 carries thereon the lower bearing member 77and the upper bearing member} 7 8' located at the inner end of "the arm79 of the yoke member. The bearing member 78 also carries a bracket 8.0having :flanges which engage the upper surfaces of the angle-irons 66,this bracket, in

turn, carrying the bearing member 81. I The shaft 82 extends between thebearing members 77' and 78, and at its central portion' is provided withthe eccentric 83, which,

in turn, engages the bearing 84 carried by the brush-carrying plate 85near its central 'portion, this plate, in turn, carrying bib 1 brushes86 having thereon the bristles 87, these brushes 86 andtheir bristles 87being of the same character as the brushes 49 and their bristlesheretofore described. It

The shaft 90 passes through the two bearing members 81, and also throughthe bearing 91 carried by the bracket 92 supported on the angle-irons66. At its outer end the shaft 90 carries the-pulley 93 suitably drivenby a belt or otherwise. By means of the clamp 94, which engages thevertical flanges of the angle-irons 66 and carries the handscrew 95which has threaded engagement with the arm 79 of the yoke 7 3, thelatter may be locked in any position to which it is moved by rotation ofthe hand-wheel 71 carried by the threaded shaft 70. Each of the shafts96 has engagement at its ends with the bearing members 97 carried by theangleirons 63 and 68, and has rigidly mounted thereon a bell-crank lever98. Each bellcrank lever carries pivotally at its outer end end of whichis provided with left-handed screw threads. The links 101 are pivotallyconnected with the opposite ends of the bellcrank levers 98, and extendto and have pivotal connection with the rib 102 of each of theln-ush-carrying plates 85. It will be evident that on rotation of theequalizing rod 100the brush-carrying plate 85 and its brushes 86 may betilted with respect to the ribbon 20 in. exactly the same manner as wasdescribed in connection with the equivalent parts in the portion 21 ofthe machine. At the same time the'equalizing rods 100 have the functionof maintaining the brushcarrying plates 85 and their brushes 86 inproper aliiiement with respect to the ribbon 20 upon movement of thebrush-carrying plates 85 toward. and away from the sides of the ribbon20 by the action of the eccentrics 83.

Having thus described the various partsv which are used in our improvedbrick-making machine. the operation of the same may now be readilyunderstood: As previously explained, the ribbon 20, of clay or otherceramic material, preferably has thin layers of material removed bywires or other suit-. able means from the upper and side surfaces of theribbon as the latter leaves the die of the brick-press, according to thewell-known method. The ribbon 20 then passes through the portion 21 ofihe machine, and its up per surface is su-bjecleil to the action of thebristles 50 of the brushes l9. The brush carrying" plate ll is movedtoward and away from the upper surface. of the ribbon 20 by the actionof the eccentric l2, the shalt 40 being rotated in the directionindicated by the arrow in Fig. 23. in ihis way the, bristles 50 during'lheir period of engagement with the upper surface of the ribbon 20 aremoved in the same direction as lhe movement of lhe ribbon but preferablyat a. slightly dil .l'crcntrate of speed. During, their period ofengagement the bristles 50 are slightly. bent so lhal' as they approachdisengagement from the surface oi lhe ribbon they are straightened andremove small particla; of-

clay from the surface of the ribbon by a pic-king" action.

As n'eviously xplained. the equalizing rod 57 and i s associatedmechanism keep the lunch-carrying: plate lland the brushes ll) incorreclf alincment with respect to the surface of the, ribbon 20, whileat the same, time. upon rotation oi" the equal-- izinn rod 5? (he lu-ushcairring' plate ll.- may be tilted as desired so that the bristles 50 ofthe brushes carried on one end of the plate may be caused to enter thesurface of the ribbon 20 to a greater depth than those of thebruslmscarried by the other end. oi? the plate i l. The brushes l9 andthe mechanism for actuating the -same may be readily adjusted by "thehandovhecls 33.. After leaving: the portion .21 off/he machine theclayribbon 20 passes into the portion 22, where the sides of theclay-ribbon are subjected to the act-ion of the brisiles 8'? of thebrushes 8%; in the same manner that the upper surface or the ribbon hasbeen subjected to the action oi the bristles 50 of the brushes &9. Itwill be understood that the function of the equalizing rods 100 issimilar to that of the equalizing rod 57, and the position of thebrushes as awhole-may be regulated by means of the llflllllfilllGBlS 71.

As a result of the action or our improved ln-iclemakingr machine it willbe apparent that the upper and side surfaces of the clay ribbon 20 areroughened and stippled with a large, number of minute indeniationscausedby the bristles 50 and 8?. The small particles of clay whichremain on the upper surface of the ribbon as a result of ihe slip--pling action may be removed ihereirom by means of a blower, or othersimilar means. After the clay-ribbon has passed through our improvedmachine, it is out into individual bricks by any well-lmown process, andthese bricks are afterward subjected to the heating action of kilns toproduce the finished product.

lit will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many detailedchanges in the construction of the parts which We have do ecribcd may bemade Without. departing aromas from the spirit or scope of ourinventien,as defined in the appended claims.

li hat We claim is: l. in a brick-making machine, the combi nation oi. aconveyor adapted to carry a ribbon ol ceramic material through saidmachine, a stippling brush adapted to engage the surface of said ribbon,means for carryiue' said brush, an eccentric adapted to move saidbrush-carrying means toward and away from the surface of said ribbon,and means in automati ally keeping said brusl1ca1'rying; means inalinemcnl; with respect to said ribbon. sa id alining means comprisingmechanism for selectively changing the angular position of saidln'ush-carrying means with. relation to the surface of said ribbon.

Q. In a brick-making machine, the combination of a conveyor adapted tocarry a ribbon or ceramic material throughsaid ma chine, a stipplingbrush adaptedto engage l'he surface of said ribbon, a plate carryingsaid brush, an eccentric adapted to move said plaie and brush toward andaway from said ribbon, a pair of bell-crank levers having connectionwith said plate near the ends thereof, and an equalizing rod extendingbetween said levers, whereby Said plate iskept in alincn'icnt withrespect to said ribbon upon actuation of said plale by said. eccentric.i

3. In a brick-making machine, the combination of a conveyor adapted tocarry a ribbon of ceramic material through said machine, a. stipplingbrushadapted to am the surface of said ribbon, a plate carrying saidbrush, an eccentric adapted to. move said plate and brush toward andaway from said ribbon, a pair of bell-crank levers having connection'With said plate near the ends thereof, and an equalizing rod extendingbetween said levers, said equalizing rod being" adjustable toSelectively move the con-' niacted arms of said bell-crank levers towardor away from each other, whereby the angular alinement of saidplate-with respect co said ribbon may be adjusted and said plate isautomatically maintained in its adjusied alinemenl; upon actuation. ofsaid plate by said eccentric.

ii. In a brick-making machine, :the combination a conveyor adapted tocarry a rib bon of c .i-an1ic'matcrial through said ma chine, astippling bnush adapted to engage the surface ol said ribbon, means forcarrying said brush, an eccentric adaplcll to i'nove I aled eccentricwith relation to the surface of said ribbon. i.

5. In a brick-making machme, the cornbr nation of a conveyor adapted tocarry a ribfor rotating said shaft, whereby said brushbon of ceramicmaterial through said macarrying means will be actuated toward andchine, a stippling brush having bristles away from said ribbon, and'means for adapted to engage the surface of said ribmaintaining saidbrush-carrying means in 5 bon, means for carrying said brush, a yoke,alinement with respect to the surface of said a shaft carried by saidyoke, said shaft havribbon. ing an eccentric portion thereon, a bearingIn Witness whereof, We hereunto subscribe on said brush-carrying meansand engaged our names this 18th day of March, A. D. by the eccentricportion of-said shaft, means 1915.

10 for adjusting the position of said yoke FRANK W. BUTTERWORTH;

toward and away from said ribbon, means GRANT HOLMES.

